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Saturday, 16 September 2017

"Then
it dawned on me. Have I been sort of hiding?! Have I been waiting for a 'better
day?' "

April
Showers

I'm sitting
in the front porch at a little table that I'm renovating. It belonged to my
grandma and is covered in sheets of paper with my daughter is drawings on. It is
raining outside. True 'Manchester' drizzle. My little girl is standing at the
top of the drive in the rain. But, despite my best efforts to advise her that
we should wait for a 'better' day, she's not perturbed.

"Come
and buy a drawing!" She calls. "Drawings for sale. They're one of a
kind!" I think we have a natural sales woman here!

My heart is
bursting with pride at her guts and natural enthusiasm. She is only 6 and so
brave to put herself out there! Would I do it?! Am I trying as hard as
she is?

The one
problem is that she hasn't made a sale...yet. Charlotte's showed up but where
are her customers? It's Good Friday. People are lying in. People are tired.
It's raining...many factors are at play.

On
reflection, what a good example of the pit falls of business.

If you're
struggling to maintain a steady flow of customers maybe it's because the
conditions aren't right? And also if they don't know you're there how are you
going to sell to them?

So, after
about 20 minutes and hearing "I'm getting FRUSTRATED now," from the
top of our drive I felt it was time to gently explain that maybe there was a
reason. That it wasn't that people didn't LIKE what she was selling. Actually
there WAS no one there to like them.

I suggested
that when it was nicer weather we would set out a stall at the top of the drive
with a nice table cloth and some bunting and we would tell the neighbours we
know well.

Light bulb
moment! There are some (common sense) but actionable points I can follow in my
own work.

Then it
dawned on me. Have I been sort of hiding?! Have I been waiting for a
"better day?"

I couldn't
have asked for a more vivid illustration of how it sometimes feels to be
carving out a living as an artist than what my gorgeous daughter was showing
me. The childlike optimism of creating. The knowledge that you have something
important and special to contribute and that you're part of a larger, creative
community.

Sometimes it
feels like you are standing out in the rain shouting 'Buy my work. You won't
regret it!' Whilst you and your work become steadily soggier! ;)

Now, this
isn't intended to be a rant or a moaning post. I don't want you to feel sorry
for me, or yourself (if you're on your creative journey) I think it's just a
really good example of not giving up and made me question why, as adults, can
we be so fearful?

So thank you
beautiful daughter for giving me a wakeup call, a reminder to get my welly
boots and waterproof on. To slip the illustrations into a water proof pocket
and stand there anyway!

I guess you
never know who will walk by?

I've recently set up a facebook group called Create, Make & Shine, for women wanting to reconnect with their creative roots. I will be teaching and offering free and paid resources and group programs there. It's a supportive space, where women are exploring the possibilities around their creativity and creative careers. We would love to see you there!https://www.facebook.com/groups/createmakeandshine/

Fi x

p.s. We
quickly got inside to avoid the worsening rain. Charlotte was fine after a
cuddle and a hot chocolate and, of course, we are going for round two when the
weather improves/we send flyers to the neighbours! :) We'll keep you updated!

(All content
copyright Fiona Meakin 2017. This is an excerpt from my blog series 'A Mum Who
Draws.')